Electric-conduit molding.



U. K. MITCHELL.

ELECTRIC CONDUIT MOLDING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1914.

1 182 788, Patented May 9, 1916.

V an qenfoz OSSIAN K. VMITCHELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-CONIDUIT MOLDING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma a, rare.

Application filed April 30, 1914. Serial No. 835,510.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OssIAN K. MITCHELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric-Conduit Molding, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to molding of hollow strips adapted to be securedin position to receive and contain electric conductors, and particularlyto molding which is constructed of rolled metal adapted to receiveinsulated conductors.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction and renderthe article more suitable for its purpose; and to these ends, theinvention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafterfully described in connection with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view of a sectionof conduit embodying the features of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a planview of the same.

It is desirable to construct molding conduits, of the class to which thepresent invention belongs, of suflicient capacity to contain at leastthree wires, and at the same time to restrict their dimensions as muchas practicable, and to these ends it has been proposed to roll theconduit out of sheet metal with an intermediate longitudinally extendingopening through which the wires may be separately introduced, and toprovide such opening with a. closing cap suitably constructed toreleasably interlock with the edges of the opening. But such devices asheretofore constructed have been unsatisfactory; some of them becausenot complying with underwriters requirements, 1n

. tudinal telescoping movement to put it in place or remove it, whichmade it impracticable to use the molding in many places. Still otherswere inconvenient because not adapted to retain an inserted conductorwhile an additional conductor is being introduced, or to retain theintroduced portion of a conductor while following portions are beingintroduced and before the closmg cap is applied. The present in-.vention avoids all of these objections and produces a cheaplyconstructed, easily installed, conveniently used, and permanently secureconduit molding by rolling a suitable strip of sheet metal to produce abody porconstrict the opening under pressure tend- 1 ing to displace thecap in an outward direction, and, therefore, developing a more securegrip upon the cap. Again, the inner edges of the confining walls 2 arerolled outwardly and backwardly for the threefold purpose of removingthe edges of the metal from the interior of the conduit; presenting anincreased friction surface for.

the sides of the cap; and removing the said edges from the longitudinalopening of the conduit, so that they will assist in wedging the wirethrough the opening and will not cut the insulation while the wire isbeing introduced.

The cap or cover embodies a suitable bodyportion 5 provided with flanges5 turned backwardly and rolled outwardly to conform to the rolledgripping edges of the longitudinal opening; the form being such thatshoulders are provided on the side walls of the cap within the Walls ofthe opening to resist displacement of the cap, either under its ownweight or under the weight of the wires, or the pressure under which thewires are left when they are crowded within the conduit. The rolledflanges thus provided on the cap are preferably continued outward adistance sufficient to form an effective limiting stop to arrest the capor closure in the proper position when forced into place.

As already suggested, the presentation of the confining walls of theconduit to the closing cap is such that the walls of the longitudinalopening tend to spread apart under the inserting pressure of the cap andtend to approach slightly when the cap is pressed in the direction toremove it, so that any outward load upon the cap within the conduit orupon the conduit walls adjacent to the cap, tends to bind the cap moretightly rather than loosen it. v

The attaching base or body 1 of the conduit is preferably flattened, asshown at 1*, to better adapt it to lie against the surface to which itis to be secured, and for the latter purpose, it may be provided atsuitable intervals with perforations 1 The described disposition of themetal edges of the conduit and cap improves the appearance of themolding; hence, the construction involves advantages of an aestheticnature, as well as the described advantages of a functional or practicalnature.

I claim:

1. A conduit for wires comprising a metal body having laterally disposedlongitudinal wire spaces and an intermediate longitudinal opening forintroduction of the wires; the confining walls of the lateral wirespaces being curved toward each other and inwardly, and said conduitbeing provided with a closing cap constructed to fit snugly between theopposed inner rims of said confining walls and constructed'to engage thesame in the direction to resist displacement of the cap.

2. A conduit for wires comprising a metal body having laterally disposedlongitudinal wire spaces with the confining walls thereof extendedtoward each other and inwardly,

but spaced apart to leave an intermediate longitudinal opening for theintroduction of the wires; the edges of the metal being turned outwardlyaway from the interior of the conduit, and backwardly from saidlongitudinal opening; said conduit having a closing cap with side wallsconforming to and snugly engaging with the side walls of the openingthus formed.

3. A thin metal conduit for wires constructed with an attaching wall,side and confining walls curved from said attaching wall to providelaterally disposed longitudinal wire spaces; said confining walls beingwardly to increase the area of the opening walls and prevent contact ofthe edges with the wire; and a closing cap having a body portionwithtfianges rolled backwardly and" outwardly therefrom to conform tothe enlarged side walls of the opening, and providing on said capshoulders within the opening walls and stop flanges outside the same.

4. A conduit for wires constructed of thin metal fashioned to provide aback wall, alongitudinally slotted front wall, and curved.

side walls integral with and spacing the front and back walls apart; theportions of the metal forming the front wall extending from the sidewalls inwardly toward each other to provide the bottoms of a pair ofwire pockets at either side of the longitudinal slot, and the edges ofthese bottom-forming portions being deflected outwardly to wholly removethem from abrading relation to the wires to be confined; and a closingcap having a body portion entering the conduit beyond and gripped by theshoulders provided by the out-turned edges of the bottom portions of theconduit and providing support for an additional wire intermediate of theOSSTAN K. MITCHELL.

In presence of- ORREN V. S'rooKnY, IRENE PARKER.

